Frank Cuesta has been arrested this Thursday in Thailand accused of possession of protected wildlife. This has been announced by the Department of National Parks of Thailand, which through a publication on social networks, where they pixelate the face of the television personality, specify that the Spaniard had in his Freedom Sanctuary nine small clawed otters and a duck-billed python without any official documentation proving their possession.

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The statement released by the Thai authorities of Lao Khwan, Kanchanaburi province, also specifies that the investigation at the herpetologist’s sanctuary began upon receipt of an e-mail notice on February 14, 2025, “stating that a foreigner was in possession of protected wild animals without a permit, such as otters, Slow lorises and others”. Cuesta reportedly told authorities that he acquired the otters “at markets at different times”.

In addition, this complaint specified that “two foundations were also established to receive donations to help the animals through online channels in Bangkok and Kanchanaburi province”. In total, the Spaniard had in his sanctuary three otters of approximately 1 month old, five of approximately two months old and one of approximately 4 years old, in addition to the python.

A great injustice against spanish wildlife expert @Frank_Cuesta.

He bought a land in Thailand and developed a sanctuary for animals, now his ex thai fiancee is trying to kick him out of the country, and tale control of the sanctuary. https://t.co/MzBdGeJvDR

— Ibuki Munemasa (@Ibukki24) February 28, 2025

Officials thus consider the action to constitute an offense under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act B.E. 2562, Section 17, for “possession of protected wildlife without permission of the director general.” As a result, Cuesta has been arrested and the protected wildlife has been seized as evidence and passed to the Wildlife Conservation Division.

Precisely, the TV presenter announced just two days ago that he was forced to leave his precious Sanctuary Liberty because of the three criminal complaints filed against him by his ex-wife and mother of his three children, Yuyee, in which she accuses him of tax fraud, illegal work, damage to her honor and illegalities with the sanctuary’s animals.

“There are going to be several changes in the sanctuary because of the judicial issues,” said Cuesta, who has three children with Yuyee and was ultimately responsible for her release and care, after she was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 15 years in prison, of which she spent six in jail. “We’ve been preparing everything for days in case drastic changes have to be made. I am not going to leave the animals alone and they are not going to leave here,” she added, while stating that the most viable solution is to leave Thailand.

-Thailand News (TN)